Comments on: Hacking for Parental Sanity http://www.ben.geek.nz/hacking-for-parental-sanity/ ...consuming experience Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:32:55 +1300 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Hier Und Jetzt - 4 July 2009 | Cupcakes and Mace http://www.ben.geek.nz/hacking-for-parental-sanity/comment-page-1/#comment-20948 Hier Und Jetzt - 4 July 2009 | Cupcakes and Mace Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:09:38 +0000 http://www.gadgetophile.com/?p=493#comment-20948 [...] Best line: “A hard yank will usually do the trick (and is very satisfying), but you could use wire cutters or a soldering iron if you are a poof want to do it right.” - Ben.geek.nz [...] [...] Best line: “A hard yank will usually do the trick (and is very satisfying), but you could use wire cutters or a soldering iron if you are a poof want to do it right.” – Ben.geek.nz [...]

]]> By: Dylan Reeve http://www.ben.geek.nz/hacking-for-parental-sanity/comment-page-1/#comment-20792 Dylan Reeve Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:50:42 +0000 http://www.gadgetophile.com/?p=493#comment-20792 The more amusing effect of flat batteries I find is that it's distorted and slow... The more amusing effect of flat batteries I find is that it’s distorted and slow…

]]> By: Chainsaw http://www.ben.geek.nz/hacking-for-parental-sanity/comment-page-1/#comment-20730 Chainsaw Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:14:34 +0000 http://www.gadgetophile.com/?p=493#comment-20730 Yep, I've used the folded paper or cardboard routine in front of the seaker before, not as posh as dacron though! ;-) Yep, I’ve used the folded paper or cardboard routine in front of the seaker before, not as posh as dacron though! ;-)

]]> By: Ben http://www.ben.geek.nz/hacking-for-parental-sanity/comment-page-1/#comment-20729 Ben Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:13:51 +0000 http://www.gadgetophile.com/?p=493#comment-20729 <a href="#comment-20727" rel="nofollow">@xurizaemon</a> Nah it was more of an estimate. You can get SPL meters from Jaycar, but they're not <a href="http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=QM1591 rel="nofollow">hugely cheap</a>. @xurizaemon
Nah it was more of an estimate. You can get SPL meters from Jaycar, but they’re not hugely cheap.

]]> By: Brian (Shadowfoot) http://www.ben.geek.nz/hacking-for-parental-sanity/comment-page-1/#comment-20728 Brian (Shadowfoot) Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:10:39 +0000 http://www.gadgetophile.com/?p=493#comment-20728 Another thing to do is to have half-flat batteries of all types on hand (not just the old AA batteries Joseph mentions) at birthdays and Christmas. You probably can't hack the speaker of a new present, and this lets the little ones play with their new toys for a limited time. Another thing to do is to have half-flat batteries of all types on hand (not just the old AA batteries Joseph mentions) at birthdays and Christmas. You probably can’t hack the speaker of a new present, and this lets the little ones play with their new toys for a limited time.

]]> By: xurizaemon http://www.ben.geek.nz/hacking-for-parental-sanity/comment-page-1/#comment-20727 xurizaemon Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:08:04 +0000 http://www.gadgetophile.com/?p=493#comment-20727 Ben - did actually you measure the dB rating of these toys? Do you have a recommended tool for measuring volume? Have been wondering if there's an obvious and simple solution (iPhone app, simple app) or if I should be off to Jaycar / DSE / Surplustronics :) Ben – did actually you measure the dB rating of these toys? Do you have a recommended tool for measuring volume?

Have been wondering if there’s an obvious and simple solution (iPhone app, simple app) or if I should be off to Jaycar / DSE / Surplustronics :)

]]> By: Fixer http://www.ben.geek.nz/hacking-for-parental-sanity/comment-page-1/#comment-20726 Fixer Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:07:28 +0000 http://www.gadgetophile.com/?p=493#comment-20726 Luckily we have an automated solution - any noisy or flashing toys are destroyed by the dogs within a few days. Luckily we have an automated solution – any noisy or flashing toys are destroyed by the dogs within a few days.

]]> By: Gabe Handel http://www.ben.geek.nz/hacking-for-parental-sanity/comment-page-1/#comment-1066 Gabe Handel Thu, 05 Jan 2006 16:05:34 +0000 http://www.gadgetophile.com/?p=493#comment-1066 Couldn't agree more. Those toys sound painfully loud to me, and my ears are much further away from them than my kid's are. I usually start with a couple of strips of tape over the speaker grilles of any toys on which grilles exist (especially effective on books with electronic noisemakers). Couldn’t agree more. Those toys sound painfully loud to me, and my ears are much further away from them than my kid’s are. I usually start with a couple of strips of tape over the speaker grilles of any toys on which grilles exist (especially effective on books with electronic noisemakers).

]]> By: Joseph Lindsay http://www.ben.geek.nz/hacking-for-parental-sanity/comment-page-1/#comment-1037 Joseph Lindsay Mon, 19 Dec 2005 22:30:10 +0000 http://www.gadgetophile.com/?p=493#comment-1037 One trick we learnt was to save the AA batteries from our digital camera. There's heaps of life left in them, but they're so much quieter than brand new. They run out quicker which is a bonus too ;) One trick we learnt was to save the AA batteries from our digital camera. There’s heaps of life left in them, but they’re so much quieter than brand new. They run out quicker which is a bonus too ;)

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